Truth to Power persists in making tangible change through the development of community and service-based action projects. In addition, we accompany our words with action by following our podcast episodes with events that give back to our community.
We have committed to “Our Promise to Aidan” in response to the murder of Aidan Ellison, a Black teenager and former student of Ashland High School. We are pursuing a variety of service projects to fulfill this promise, including the projects listed below with an asterisk. (*)
Our Promise to Aidan: We vow to never forget you. We commit to ensuring that your death will catalyze a transformation in our town. We will use our voices and the opportunities afforded us to stand with people of color in our community. We will fight to honor you and all of the others who have fallen to the systemic racism that is ingrained in our valley. We will fight to be better.
Ongoing projects
Ongoing support for the houseless
Club participation and organization around surveying, food distribution, and shelter support. Truth to Power has also organized 3 supply drives to collect food and materials for the houseless and distributed goods to local shelters.
Truth to Power Hour on KSKQ
Truth to Power members play music, host interviews, and discuss local issues and events such as reproductive justice, back to school, houselessness, performative activism, and more! Live bi-monthly on Saturdays from 7-9 AM.
Menstrual Dignity Act
Truth to Power is working with our school to provide free pads and tampons in every bathroom on campus.
Past Projects
Reproductive justice screening and discussion
Truth to power hosted a screening of the 2022 documentary The Janes and a panel discussion on reproductive rights! We were joined by local organizations that work in reproductive justice, gender and sexuality equity, and abortion access for the community. This event was a fundraiser for Indigenous Women Rising, an amazing organization that works to provide equitable and safe reproductive health care to Indigenous people across the U.S.
Community Painting Day for the Menstrual Dignity Act
Truth to Power worked with students and faculty from AHS woodshop classes to build sustainable tampon and pad dispensers. A painting day was held for the community to join in decorating these dispensers.
'Turning Red' screening
Ukrainian egg decorating
School-wide event to raise money for and bring awareness to the war in Ukraine.
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BIPOC Celebration Mural*
A student synthesized memorial to Aidan Ellison that also honors the leadership and contributions of BIPOC from the Rogue Valley. A dedication ceremony commemorated the BIPOC celebration mural and honored Aidan Ellison and his memory on the anniversary of his death.
Community Painting Day for the BIPOC Celebration Mural*
An event led by the club to unite the community as the BIPOC Celebration Mural was being made. Community members were invited to come join TTP in filling in swirls of color on the mural while honoring all those depicted and celebrating their life and contributions,
Rogue Food Unites
The club organized volunteer work to help feed those affected by the Almeda fires.
Fire Preparedness Trainings
We presented a series of three workshops on Fire and Emergency Preparedness to provide our community with tools to protect themselves and their neighbors during fire season.
Debut Gala
Antiracism workshops*
As a part of ‘Our Promise to Aidan’, we organized a series of workshops on anti-racism led by Danielle LoPresti and Akeel Williams. The first workshop invited attendees to recognize and understand race and racism, while the second emphasized antiracist action. These workshops were attended by over 200 community members.
13th screening and discussion*
Over Zoom, we screened Ava DuVernay’s documentary, which examines the evolution of racism in the United States and mass incarceration. After the screening, we hosted a discussion featuring leaders from from Partnership for Safety and Justice, Siskiyou Abolition Project, and The Exiled Voice podcast.
Black History Month School wide Video Lesson
Although Black History Month typically celebrates the contributions of Black people throughout the past, we wanted to honor the Black activists and leaders of the Rogue Valley who are currently making history by serving our communities.